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Measuring your EPC

Anyone who sells their home in the UK must market it with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This gives a rating based on how energy efficient the home is and allows potential buyers to compare houses and make estimates on how much it may cost them to heat the house. Over the next 2 years, the EPC or at least E grading will also be compulsory for homes that are rented.

The EPC was originally devised as part of the Home Information Pack (HIP), a document that detailed everything to do with the home and any changes that had been made. The HIP was abandoned in 2010, but the EPC remained as it was deemed especially useful for potential buyers and renters.

How the EPC is calculated

A trained assessor is needed to work out the EPC rating for your home. They will look at the energy efficiency of items such as insulation, double glazing if the hot water tank is insulated and how well the radiators work and the boiler type and rating. The results of these observations are placed into a piece of software that offers a rating and recommendations for improvement.

The EPC will show:

● A grade from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient with good insulation and double glazing. G represents an old building with single glazing and no insulation.
● A number between 1 and 100 which is a finer grading indicating the current cost of energy bills for the property. The lower the number the more costly it is likely to be.
● Another number between 1 and 100 which shows the potential of the property if certain recommendations are carried out – such as improving insulation or adding double or triple glazing.
● An estimation of running costs of the home and potential savings for lighting, heating and hot water.
● A summary of all of the measured aspects of the home – each with a star rating out of 5. These aspects include walls (cavity and internal), roof, floors, windows, heating and controls, secondary heating sources such as fireplaces, hot water and lighting.

Your EPC can only be carried out by a trained and accredited assessor and is not something you can do yourself. However, it is often offered as part of the real estate agent service and costs around £100 – £200.